Method of transferring axis-orbital plane information from a patient to a dental articulator

ABSTRACT

In place of the conventional axis-orbital plane recording bow normally attached to a mandibular movement recorder to determine a patient&#39;&#39;s axis-orbital plane for transfer to a dental articulator, indents are made of the patient&#39;&#39;s teeth in reference plates during the recording operation. These indents or impressions are formed in reference plates which are substituted for the conventional clutches normally used to attach and support the recording bows during a recording operation. By then simply transferring the hardened indents or impressions to already available plaster casts of the patient&#39;&#39;s teeth, previously mounted on the articulator, the correct axis-orbital plane is automatically established.

United States Patent Stuart [451 July 29,1975

Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ralph B. Pastoriza [57] ABSTRACT In place of the conventional axis-orbital plane recording bow normally attached to a mandibular movement recorder to determine a patients axis-orbital plane for transfer to a dental articulator, indents are made of the patients teeth in reference plates during the recording operation. These indents or impressions are formed in reference plates which are substituted for the conventional clutches normally used to attach and support the recording bows during a recording operation. By then simply transferring the hardened indents or impressions to already available plaster castsof the patients teeth, previously mounted on the articulator, the correct axis-orbital plane is automatically established.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures METHOD OF TRANSFERRING AXIS-ORBITAL PLANE INFORMATION FROM A PATIENT TO A DENTAL ARTICULATOR This invention relates generally to dentistry and more particularly to an improved transfer method for providing axis-orbital plane information fabrication from a patients dentalmandibular movement recorder to a dental articulator in the fabrication of dentures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In my U.S. Pat. No. 2,814,876 entitled MANDIBU- LAR MOVEMENT RECORDER, there is described a device used in the practice of dentistry for recording the direction and magnitude of movement of the human mandible. The recorder is adapted for use in guiding a dentist or dental mechanic in adjusting a dental articulating instrument so that the instrumentwill reproduce the same paths of jaw movement that are described by the jaws of the patient on whose jaws dentures are to be fitted, according to the record provided by the mandibular movement recorder.

An important consideration in adjusting the articulator is to make sure that the casts of the patients teeth are in the same relationship to the hinge axis of the articulator as the patients teeth are to the hinge axis of the patients jaw, in addition to making sure that the tor, which reproduces the movements of the mandible.

The axis-orbital plane recording device functions simply to facilitate the location of the axis-orbital plane in an accurate and precise manner whenever transfers of.

the plane to an articulator are necessary.

Since the use of an axis-orbital plane recorder consumes considerable time as well as additional equipment, it would be desirable if such an apparatus could be eliminated altogether from the mandibular movement recorder. It will be understood that marking a point on a persons face generally to one side of his nose at the level of the lower border of the eye orbit in conjunction with the two points at the end of the jaw hinge axis establishes the axis-orbital plane and thus the correct reference of the patients teeth relative to the hinge axis and orbital plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION With the foregoing in mind, the present invention contemplates a new method of transferring axis-orbital plane information with a mandibular movement recorder to an articulator all to the end that the usual ap paratus in the form of axis transferring styluses and orbital pointer means are eliminated from the mandibular movement recorder. And yet a precise duplication of the proper relationship of the patients teeth can readily be established on the dental articulator when the transfer is made.

More particularly, in accord with the method of the present invention, a conventional mandibular movement recorder is employed but there is not required the use of any axis-orbital plane recorder in conjunction therewith. Rather, the conventional clutch plates which are normally cemented to the patients teeth or jaws for enabling recording traces to be made are replaced by reference plates. These reference plates are lined with impression material and indents of the patients teeth are made with these reference plates while the patients jaw is in a centric position and the recording apparatus properly adjusted. When the impression material hardens, the recorder is properly locked to the patients jaws so that recording traces can be made in a conventional manner, the same as though clutches were employed properly cemented to the patients teeth. However, after the recordings have been completed, the reference plates are removed with the indents'of thepa tients teeth therein and these reference plates may then be directly fitted to the already axis orbital mounted casts of the patients lower and upper teeth on the articulator thereby automatically establishing the axis-orbital plane relationship. If the indents are properly fitted onto the mounted casts, the hinge axis points and orbital plane will automatically be identical on the articulator as the axis-orbital plane in the human head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the method of this invention will be had by now referring to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mandibular movement recorder modified slightly in order to carry out the method of the present invention; and,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a dental articulator incorporating axis orbital mounted casts of the patients teeth for cooperation with the mandibular movement recorder of FIG. 1 in accord with the method of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring first to FIG. 1, the mandibular movement recorder comprises a U-shaped lower frame including a lower horizontal bar 10 supporting a lower impression-taking reference plate 11 at its central portion as I when the reference plate is secured to the lower jaw.

The ends of the rods 13 and 14 support suitable styli 15 and 16 respectively.

A U-shaped upper frame includes an upper horizontal bar 17 secured to an upper impression reference plate 18 by a suitable clamp'block 19 adjustably connected to the upper bar 17 as shown.

Suitable right and left supporting rods 20 and 21 extend from the upper bar 17 and terminate in recording surfaces designated generally at 22 and 23 respectively. These recording surfaces are arranged to be engaged by the recording styli 15 and 16 and traces are made when the patient moves his mandible, thus effecting movement of the styli relative to the recording surfaces, all as fully set forth and described in my heretofore referred to U.S. Pat. No. 2,814,876.

In accord with afeature of this invention in carrying out the method, the usual bite blocks or clutches have been replaced by theyirnpression-taking reference plates 11 and 1 8 as described in FlGQl. These referf ence plates are lined with impression taking material and when therreference plates are properly positioned over the lower and upper teeth to make an impression and when the'impression material has hardened, the recorder is properly secured to the patient in the same manner as though bite blocks or clutches were em ployed and properly cemented to the patients teeth.

It is to be understood that the patients mandible is held in a centric position when the reference plates are positioned for taking the indents of the teeth and the various other recording adjustments are also made with the mandible in this centric position; that is, thestyli' DENTAL ARTICULATOR. As shown, there are provided lower and upper plaster casts 29 and 30 which previously are normally made of the patients teethposition by face bow means on the artic ulatorj The hinge axis of the articulator is indicated at A and in transferring the information from the recorder to the articulator in order that the .articulator can be adjusted to simulate the movements of the patients jaw, it is vital to establish an axis-orbital plane for the casts of the teeth on the articulator in precise correspondence to the axisorbital plane of the patient as heretofore established during the recording by an axis-orbital bow and pointer indicating a point to the right of the patients nose, on level of the lower border of the eye orbit.

In accord with the method of the present invention, itwill be evident that by simplytransferring the reference plates directly to the casts with the recorder still attached to the reference plates in the same manner" that they would be attached to bite blocks or clutches,

dibular movements the recording apparatus was used 1 I to perform four functions. I

1. Location of axis and'markinig of orbitalplane.

V Recording'axis on the recording device for trans I 'ferring the axis to the articulator by using Styluses I on the. recorder and also'on orbital point for the or-.

'bital plane. I i V l V Recording the excentric mandibular movement of the patient on the recording plates by means of the recording styluses.

4..Maintaining,the upper andlower recording devices in centric relation byiusing upper and lower 'extrwa aoral bars cementedtogether in centricirelation on the patient. By this means the centric relation'of the upper and lower recordercan be transferred to the articulator. r I

By using the method. of the present inven'tion thel above'steps l, 2 and 4are eliminated fromthe tech; I 3 nique thus simplifying the process, shortening the time consumed for the technique and increasing the accuracy of the relations.

lt'will thus be seen that the method of the present in vention wherein reference plates are employed and in I dents of the patients teeth transferred directly tocasts on the articulator wholly eliminates the need for transferring the axis orbital plane on the mandibular mo vemerit recorder because in effect the same result is being accomplished by this method. What is, claimed: is:

mation with a dental mandibular movement recorder to a dental articulator wherein plaster castsof a patients; lower and. upper teeth have been 'made and are a mounted on the articulator with an axis orbital transferring device and centricrelation recording, comprising a the steps of:;

the axis-orbital plane is automatically established since the hinge axis of thearticulatorhas previously been put in proper alignment with'thehinge axisof the patientj "In F IG. 2,1the application ofthelowerandupper reference plates 11 and 18 to the casts 29 and 30'is indicated by the arrows.

So long as the hardened impression material remains and is fitted properly to the plaster cast teeth on the articulator, the axio-dental relations on the articulator are the same as the axio-dental relations of the patent and thereafter the dentist or technician is assured of the proper relationship of the teeth to the hinge axis in the articulator. 1 V r Summarizing, in former methods of recording mana. providing lower andupper'reference plates cou-g pled to the recorder in place of theusual clutches;

b. lining the reference plates with impression taking" 7' material;

c: inserting the: reference plates in" the patients mouthholdinghis mandible in a centric position;

surfaces of therecordery; I

rial has hardened; r f. making the various recording traces by the recorder; and, r

g. transferring the hardened indents'in the reference plates to the casts on thearticulator so, that the re .corder is positioned on the articulator with correct axis-orbital plane relationship automatically estab i in the hardened impression material. V 4 1: 5 l= lished as a consequence of thecasts fitting properly 1. A method of transferring axis-orbitalplane infer- I l i d. adjusting the various recordingstylii and'recording 1 Fe. holding the adjustment until the .irnpressidnrnateq- 

1. A method of transferring axis-orbital plane information with a dental mandibular movement recorder to a dental articulator wherein plaster casts of a patient''s Lower and upper teeth have been made and are mounted on the articulator with an axis orbital transferring device and centric relation recording, comprising the steps of: a. providing lower and upper reference plates coupled to the recorder in place of the usual clutches; b. lining the reference plates with impression taking material; c. inserting the reference plates in the patient''s mouth holding his mandible in a centric position; d. adjusting the various recording stylii and recording surfaces of the recorder; e. holding the adjustment until the impression material has hardened; f. making the various recording traces by the recorder; and, g. transferring the hardened indents in the reference plates to the casts on the articulator so that the recorder is positioned on the articulator with correct axis-orbital plane relationship automatically established as a consequence of the casts fitting properly in the hardened impression material. 